• Dancing is good for mind, body, soul • Au naturel • Hooray Dr. LaBedz Dancing is good for mind, body, soul While I appreciate and applaud the discerning comments to “define dancing” applicable to be in compliance with what
• Dancing is good for mind, body, soul •
Au naturel • Hooray Dr.
LaBedz
Dancing is good for mind, body, soul
While I appreciate and applaud the discerning comments to “define dancing” applicable to be in compliance with what can transpire in commercial establishments serving liquor, one has to ask, “Aren’t we getting a bit tedious in ascertaining what is allowable?”
It’s in this nitpicking process in trying to determine what is permissible that becomes inanely ridiculous when one has to argue as to whether toe-tapping to a tune while sitting at a bar may be ruled as inappropriate or illegal.
I can’t imagine what exactitudes can or must be prescribed to create an ordinance that is sensible and enforceable.
Must there be absolute resistance to responding to rhythmic tempos or lilting melodies? Is a spontaneous hula totally out of the question here in Hawai‘i nei? Can anyone dare to wiggle when one walks for fear of being arrested on the spot? Can we shimmy our shoulders or tap our fingers? Or must we remain perfectly still in a room where dancing is prohibited?
Where does common sense and/or a gentle reminder come in if someone gets carried away and starts to dance in a place or at a time when it is forbidden and unlawful?
Dance is so good for mind, body, and soul. Can’t we lighten up a bit on this one?
Jose Bulatao Jr., Kekaha
Au naturel
Those who oppose nudity on a public beach usually fall into two classifications.
Those that don’t want to see the nudity and those that want to make it illegal because they are offended.
The first group, those that don’t want to see nudity on a remote beach, should work with area naturists to get a section of a beach designated clothing-optional and this would allow for signs to be installed that would alert beach visitors that there is nudity beyond the sign. Those that find nudity offensive would know not to go there.
The second group, those that want to make it illegal, will go through all kinds of maneuvers to justify their personal “opinion” as being the suggested law on the issue. They will recklessly throw words around like lewd, lascivious or indecent to describe “mere nudity” to frighten the un-knowledgeable into supporting their bias.
Mere nudity is simply that unless it is combined with behavior. That is what most courts state when called upon to give an opinion.
We all know that a person cam be lewd, lascivious and indecent while wearing clothes. Just look at the child molestation cases and who were the perpetrators.
The US Supreme Court has ruled in one case that mere nudity is not harmful to children, And in the same case commented that if a person finds that mere nudity offends them, then all they have to do to cure the offense is to avert their eyes.
Some District Courts have ruled that mere nudity can be a statement, which it is with naturists and as such protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution.
The New York Supreme Court has ruled that women can go top-free anywhere where men can go top-free and used the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution as the justification for their ruling.
The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that mere nudity is not lewd, lascivious or indecent and is acceptable in an area set apart for that purpose.
A traditional naturist beach area could have standing in a court and will frown upon people that knowing that an area is a traditional nude area, would go there on purpose for the sole purpose of being offended and becoming a complaining party.
This is America. If someone is offended by nudity on a remote beach, work to get signs installed and for God’s sake quit trying to proactively be offended.
In South Florida our designated beach is a major tourist destination and has an economic impact in excess of $400 million annually while it creates jobs and contributes major dollars in sales and resort taxes.
Oh yes! The courts have also ruled that there is no constitutional right to not be offended.
Richard Mason, President, Florida Naturist Association
Hooray Dr. LaBedz
The letter “Legalize it” in Saturday’s edition by Gordon Labedz, M.D., could not have been more accurate.
Our government has a huge infrastructure of hired people who make their living because drugs are illegal. Most of them will gladly sit down and explain their reasonings over some pupus and cocktails.
Take notice that no one brings up the consequences to society because of alcohol. Only the governor sees it as a way to raise the tax to help the state’s budget.
Just think of how many more jobs could be created if we made alcohol illegal as well. The so-called “drug wars” will never end, because all of those employed in some relationship to fight it would lose their jobs and cause the largest unemployment fiasco in the nation’s history.
It’s going to continue just like the government’s newest infrastructure fiasco TSA. Just like the drug war, it will remain a permanent fixture in our daily lives.
LaBedz, you obviously know and speak with experience to tell it like it is, unlike the local government which continues the “fear mongering” from the past 50 plus years to society.
Steve Martin, Kapa‘a
